The Democrats (Maldives)

The Democrats (ދަ ޑިމޮކްރެޓްސް) are a political party in the Maldives, formed by a faction within the Maldivian Democratic Party amid a rift between members who supported Mohamed Nasheed. Some of their members were pending expulsion from the party after voting against the party-line and voting to oust sitting cabinet ministers of president Solih's cabinet.

The party nominated Ilyas Labeeb and Hussain Amr for its presidential ticket in the 2023 Maldivian presidential election.

Founding
The party was founded in 2023 by 12 members who were originally members of a faction in Maldivian Democratic Party loyal to Mohamed Nasheed.

The members of the party favour a parliamentary system of government, which was what initially caused the rift between the group, originally within the Maldivian Democratic Party. The rift then became more apparent after the members of the group started openly criticizing the MDP government and several cabinet ministers.

The group was originally a sizable minority within the party, but were unable to secure the party's Chairperson post and were later unable to secure the MDP's ticket for the 2023 election after running Mohamed Nasheed against the president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the party primaries.

After party leadership threatened to oust key members of their group from the MDP, a group of members formed The Democrats. During the initial party formation, Mohamed Nasheed was still a part of the MDP, a party he played a key role in founding. Despite this, Nasheed was actively involved in The Democrats’ political activities and campaign.

He left the Maldivian Democratic Party soon after on July 17, 2023, noting that “it was not the right thing to do.” He also later established that he wishes to “tear down the party.”